The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-05-26

Like most gamblers, Mr.. Hamlin was super
stitiouS. He rose hastily from the bed and
took a chair beside the window The wind
shook it as if the discontented spirit of Mn.
Byways were without, reinforcing his last
injunction.
Il don't know if you remember him" said
Peg, feyerishly "He was a man ez he'd suf-
fered, All that he loved-wife, fammerly,
friends-had gone back on him. He tried to
make light Of it afore folks, but with me,
being poor gal, he let himself out l never
told anybody this. I don't know why he told
me- don't know" continued Peg, with a
sniffie, "why he wanted to make me unhappy,
too. But he made me promise that, if he left
me his fortune, I'd never, never-so. help NE
God-never share it with any man or woman
that l IoUed. l didn't think it would be hard
to keep that promise then, Mr.. Hamlin for 1
was very poor and hedn't q friend nor liv-
ing bein' that was kind to me but him"
"But you've as good as broken your prom
ise already" said Hamlin. you've given
Jack money!" as / know"
"Only what made myself. Listen to me,
Mr.. Hamlin. When Jack proposed to me, I
offered him about what kalkilated I could
earn myself. When he went away, and was
sick and in trouble, I came here and took this
hotel. | knew that by hard work I uld
make it pay, Don't laugh at me- please. 1
did work hard and did make it pay-without
takin' one cent of the fortin'. And all [
made, workin' by night and day, I gave to
him. l did, Mr. Hamlin. amt SO hard to
him as you think, though l might be kinder,
I know"
Mr.. Hamlin rose, deliberately resumed his
coat, watch, hat and overcoat. When he was
completely dressed again he turned to Peg.
"Do you mean to say that you've been givin'
all the money you made here to this Al first
class cherubim?"
"Yesg but he didn't know where got it.
Oh, Mr. Hamlin he didn't know that"
"Do l understand you, that he's bin buck
ing agin faro with the money that you raised
on hash! And you maxim the hash!'
"But he didn't know that He wouldn't
hev took it if I'd told him."
"No, he'd hey died fustI' said Mr.. Hamlin
gravely. "Why, he's that sensitive-is Jack
Folinsbee-that it nearly kills him to take
money even of me. But where does this
angel reside when he isn't fightin' the tiger,
and is, so to speak, visible to the naked eye."
"He-he-stops here" said Peg, with an
awkward blush.
Il see. Night 1 ask the number of his
room-or should be a-distlubing him in
with grave p0literess,
"Oh! then you'll promise3 And you'll talk
to him, and make hin, promiseE"
"Of course,a said Hamlin quietly.
"And you'll remember he's sicll-very sick!
His rooms No. A, at the end of the hail. Per-
haps I'd better go with youl"
"pll find It,"
"And you won't be too hard on him!"
"I'll be a father to him" said Hamlin de-
murely, as he opened the door and stepped
into the hail But he hesitated moment,
and then turned and gravely held out his
hand. Peg took it timidly. He did not seem
quite in earnest; and his black eyes, vainly
questioned indicated nothing. But he shook
her hand warmly, and the next moment was
gone.
He found the room with no difficulty. A
faint cough from within, and a querulous
protest, answered his knock. Mr.. Hamlin
entered without further ceremony. A sick
ening smell of drugs, palpable flavor OF
stale dissipation, and the wasted figure Of
Jack Folinsbee, half dressed, extended upon
the bed, greeted him. Mr.. Hamlin was for
! an instant startled, There We're hollow cir
cles round the sick mans eyes; there was
palsy in his trembling limbs; there was disso-
luton in his feverish breath.
"Whats upf' he asked huskily and nerv-
ously.
"I am, and I want you to get up too"
81 can't, Jack. I'm regularly done up
He reached his shaking hand toward a glass
half filled with suspicious, pungent smelling
| liquid; but Mr.. Hamln stayed it
''Do you want to get back that s., 900 you
| lostgn
"Yes.n
"Well, get up, and marry that woman
down stairs"
Folinsbee laughed half Historically, half
sardonically.
''She won't give it to me-"
! "No; but I will"
"Youm
} "Yesn
FO1iusbna with nm attnuot at a rackIeSe